Downtown Yreka was hopping on Friday afternoon when vendors and supporters gathered for the last Miner Street Market, where performers Dan Daniels and Sam Cuenca entertained the crowd with "old time" and "Gospel" music.

As children skipped up and down the closed portion of Miner Street and fans of locally grown produce and handmade goods made their final purchases of the season, many market goers commented that they are "disappointed" to see the weekly event end abruptly.

The last market of the season was originally intended to be held on Oct. 26. However, the Yreka City Council received a number of complaints from downtown merchants that the closure of Miner Street from Oregon to Fourth streets each Friday was negatively impacting their businesses. The council voted on Sept. 20 to discontinue the market at its current location.

The resolution passed by the council gave Yreka City Manager Steve Baker authority to approve an alternative location for the market for the duration of the season.

However, Floyd Latham, market manager and owner of Horse Creek Farm, told the Daily News that it is too late in the season to change the market location. He said he intends to manage the market next year at an alternative location.

Several Miner Street merchants told the Daily News that they support a certified farmers market being held in the downtown area – they just do not want Miner Street closed every Friday afternoon for the event.

"I am really sad to see the market go," said Latham at his Horse Creek Farm booth during the Friday market. "Our customers are sad to see it go."

He noted that he was happy to see the great turnout of market customers for the last one of the season.

Vendor Carol Norton, owner of Wolfsong Essentials, commented, "I'm sorry that the market has been discontinued. I think Miner Street is a wonderful location, and has been a benefit to the community and a benefit to the businesses."

Regular market customer Jane Hall told the Daily News that she does not believe the city gave the market enough of a chance.

"I am really disappointed that the market has been shut down early. The vendors and business owners should have sat down and discussed what was working and what was not working, and then came to a decision," said Hall. "The city just shut it down. You can't say it didn't work after three months."

Patt Causey, owner of Windy Ridge, commented that she and her fellow vendors have seen "a building of community" at the Miner Street Market. "We see huge groups of people walking up and down the street talking to each other. We did not see that when the market first started," she stated.

Page 2 of 2 - Oven Bakery owner and vendor Tiphaine Ferchaud said she appreciates all the support from the community and the great turnout for the last market.

"This is disappointing but it is really nice that everybody came out to support us in the end," she said.

Jill Harris of the Siskiyou County Economic Development Council (EDC) also commented that she was pleased by the number of community members who came together to support the last Miner Street Market at its current location.

"We're happy, we're having fun, we're just sorry it's the last one," she said.

EDC representatives sponsored a $100 city-wide gift certificate contest at the last market.

Those wishing to participate in the contest shopped at one of the Miner Street businesses and brought their receipts to the EDC booth for a chance to win the certificate.

At the close of the market, Trish Cummings was named the winner of the contest.